Peach tree named ‘CRISPLATE’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of yellow peach tree denominated ‘CRISPLATE’ has fruits with high eating quality and very long shelf life without alteration before and after harvesting, with a semi-sweet yellow flesh showing a red pigmentation inside and around the pit cavity, and an attractive luminous skin with a very high percentage of purple red blush on skin surface.

Botanical classification: Prunus persica (L.) Batsch.

Variety denomination: ‘CRISPLATE’.

This application claims priority of Community plant variety right No. 2012/0743 filed on Apr. 2, 2012 (04/02/12) which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of yellow peach tree, Prunus persica (L.) Batsch, which has been given the variety denomination ‘CRISPLATE’. This new tree produces fruits with a long shelf life without alteration both on the tree after growth completion and after harvesting, very good eating quality, clingstone yellow flesh fruits for fresh market in September in the Pyrénées-Orientales department (an administrative district), France. Contrast is made to its female parent ‘JULIENICE’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,472) yellow peach tree and to its male parent ‘NECTALADY’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,580) yellow nectarine tree, for reliable description. ‘CRISPLATE’ is a promising candidate for commercial success in that it has very attractive fruits with very long shelf life without alteration both before and after harvesting.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The ‘CRISPLATE’ yellow peach tree originated from a cultivated area of the south of France, in the Pyrénées-Orientales department, where it was tested.

This place is under a Mediterranean climate (a temperate area), on the Mediterranean coastline. Winters are gentle and summers warm and dry. The amount of days with temperatures below 7° Celsius can vary between 600 and 1200 hours per year. The place is sunny, with 2400 to 2800 hours of sunny days per year on average. The prevailing wind is called ‘Tramontane’: it dries the air, clears the sky from clouds, but its intensity can be strong and affect the harvest, fruit quantity and/or quality. Marine moisture does not affect the place. Precipitations are irregular through the year and from one year to another. The amount of rainy days does not exceed 80 days per year, and are mostly found in Spring and Autumn. In May and October, very intense precipitations occasionally happen. Summer is dry with a few thunderstorms.

The ‘CRISPLATE’ variety resulted from a pollinated cross between ‘JULIENICE’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,472) peach tree, which was used as the seed parent, and the ‘NECTALADY’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,580) nectarine tree which was used as the pollen parent.

‘CRISPLATE’ was provisionally designated, tested and genetically identified by a genetic profile, under number 01.29E.100PJ and was registered at the Official Catalogue of the Agriculture Ministry of the French Republic on Nov. 27, 2011 under number 4049389. The ‘CRISPLATE’ variety was obtained by hybridizing and propagated by grafting on an ‘INRA GF677’ rootstock trees. It has been determined to have unique tree and fruit characteristics making it worthy for commercial fresh fruit production. There are no known effects of the standard rootstock trees set forth above on the scion cultivar. Asexually propagated plants remained true to the original tree and all characteristics of the tree and the fruit were transmitted. The plant was reproduced asexually by us in Les Régalines, Route d'Alenya, La Prade de Mousseillous, 66200 ELNE, Pyrénées-Orientales, France. More particularly, the plant was reproduced by grafting.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The new and distinct variety ‘CRISPLATE’ yellow peach tree blooms during March near Elne in the Pyrénées-Orientales department, France. More particularly, the blooming begins between February 28^(th) and March 19^(th) generally one week earlier than ‘JULIENICE’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,472). However, it was observed that its early date of blooming seems to be highly dependant on climatic conditions.

The first fruit of ‘CRISPLATE’ ripens generally at the end of August or early in September, approximately 10 to 12 days later than ‘JULIENICE’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,472). More particularly, it usually ripens between August 26^(th) and September 17^(th). Ripening of ‘CRISPLATE’ appears significantly later than described ripening of Red Princess, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,729; also, purple red on orange red background fruit skin color of ‘CRISPLATE’ appears different from very dark red on moderate red background described for ‘Red Princess’. However, it was observed that its early date of maturity seems to be highly dependant on climatic conditions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawing, which are as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in a color illustration of this type:

FIG. 1 is a color photograph showing a view of a tree of the new variety in its fourth leaf, in orchard, bearing fruits.

FIG. 2 is a color photograph which shows three typical specimens of the fruit, one having been cut in half with the pit being left in one of the halves for depicting leaves, fruit flesh, pit and pit cavity of the new variety.

FIG. 3 is a color photograph which depicts the flower buds at different development stages, and the reverse and side view of the flower and the reproductive organs with petals removed, of the new variety.

FIG. 4 is a color photograph that shows a close view of typical fruits of the new variety ‘CRISPLATE’ at ripening time.

Due to chemical development, processing and printing, the leaves and fruit depicted in these photographs may or may not be accurate when compared to the actual botanical specimen.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The tree, flowers, and fruit may vary in slight detail due to variations in soil type, cultural practices, and climatic condition. The potential for commercial production of fresh fruits by ‘CRISPLATE’ is high, due to fruit very long shelf life without alteration after harvesting.

Trees are medium vigorous and large stature half-standing in a semi-flared to semi-upright out aspect. The anthocyanic coloration of flowering shoot is present excluding brushwood side away from sun. The time of beginning of flowering is considered medium to semi early for the variety; flowering begins generally during the first fortnight of March. The type of flower is showy with medium to large petal size. Petals are pale pink, becoming slightly darker until the end of blooming. Leaf glands are present and reniform. The fruit flesh is yellow and its skin is thick and colored with a luminous purple red blush on an orange red background. The stone is clingstone and his size is medium. Fruit taste is semi-sweet, aromatic and with a high level of sugars.

Compared to its female parent ‘JULIENICE’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,472) yellow peach tree, the ‘CRISPLATE’ variety approximately blooms 1 week later and ripens 10 to 12 days later, as set forth above. The purple red ‘CRISPLATE’ fruits color on an orange background is very attractive. Moreover, ‘CRISPLATE’ variety produces a higher quantity of flowers than ‘JULIENICE’ variety.

The new variety male parent, which is the ‘NECTALADY’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,580) variety, produces yellow nectarines whereas ‘CRISPLATE’ produces yellow peach, however the time of maturity of ‘NECTALADY’ is approximately the same as ‘CRISPLATE’ variety.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring more specifically to the pomological details of this new and distinct variety of yellow peach tree, the following was observed on trees in their fourth growing season (third year of production) under the ecological conditions prevailing at the orchards located near the town of Elne, Pyrénées-Orientales department, France. All observations have been done on rootstock cultivars. Used rootstocks were ‘INRA GF677’ trees. All major color code designations are by reference to The R.H.S. Colour Chart 2001 (Fourth Edition) provided by The Royal Horticultural Society of Great Britain.

-   Tree:     -   -   Size.—Generally. — Considered large. The tree size the first             year was approximately 250 cm. The tree was pruned during             each following dormant season to a height of approximately             250 cm. Current season shoots growth could reach 60 to             80 cm. The tree size from the second year (second and next             years) reached a final height of 310 to 330 cm including             current season shoots length. The tree size is consistently             reduces to 250 cm the next years.         -   Spread.—Approximately 100 cm with a cylindrical shape. The             whole orchard was oriented to a central leader organization,             with tree lines spaced of 4.0 meters and trees spaced of 1.0             meter in a same tree line. As a result, tree spread was             about 100 cm and the orchard contained 2500 trees by             hectare.         -   Vigor.—Considered medium vigorous.         -   Productivity.—Very Productive and regular, every year. Fruit             set is spaced by thinning to develop the remaining fruit             into the desired market sized fruit. The number of the fruit             set varies with the prevailing climatic conditions and             cultural practices employed during the bloom period, and is             therefore not distinctive of the present variety.         -   Bearer.—Very regular. The fruit distribution is considered             homogenous on mixed branches and spurs having more than 1             year. Thinning of 1 fruit out of 3 was necessary for the             tree valorisation. Thinning was necessary every year during             the years of observation.         -   Form.—The ‘CRISPLATE’ variety has a naturally semi-flared to             semi-upright shape.         -   Density.—Considered dense.         -   Hardiness.—The present tree was grown and evaluated in             France. The variety appears to be hardy under the central             Pyrénées-Orientales department typical climatic conditions.             Experimentations on different sites with winter chilling             requirement comprised between 350 hours and 1200 hours             showed a good behaviour of the tree in all cases. No damages             were caused by ascertained temperatures as low as −12             degrees Celsius in winter. The tree was also very resistant             to frosty springtime weather. -   Trunk:     -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 7.0 to 8.0 centimeters in diameter             when measured at a distance of approximately 30 cm above the             soil level.         -   Bark texture.—Considered slightly rough, with lenticels.         -   Lenticels.—Numerous lenticels are present. The number of             lenticels reaches 4 lenticels per cm². The lenticels range             in size from approximately 4.0 to 6.0 millimeters in width,             and from 1.0 to 2.0 millimeters in height.         -   Lenticel color.—The outside of lenticels has a silver-grey             color (RHS Grey 201 D or RHS Black 202 D), whereas the             inside of lenticels is considered brown (RHS Greyed Orange             166 B).         -   Bark coloration.—The bark has a silver-grey color (RHS Grey             201 A), slightly darker than lenticels color. -   Branches:     -   -   Size.—Mature branches and current season shoots are             considered medium to large for the variety.         -   Diameter.—Average as compared to other peach varieties. The             current season shoots have a diameter from 4.0 to 7.0             millimeters, and mature branches have a diameter from 22.0             to 28.0 millimeters.         -   Surface texture.—Average, wood which is several years old             has no furrowed appearance.         -   Crotch angles.—Primary branches are considered variable, but             the crotch angles are generally between 80 degrees and 90             degrees from the horizontal axis. This particular             characteristic is not considered distinctive of the variety,             however.         -   Current season shoots.—         -   Internode length.—Generally between 24.0 and 30.0             millimeters.         -   Color of mature branches.—Brown (RHS Grey Brown N 199 B).         -   Current seasons shoots.—Color. — The color of new shoot tips             is considered a pale green (RHS Green 144 A to B) on lower             part of new shoot tips, whereas the upper part is darker             than the lower part and colored in orange brown (RHS Greyed             Red 182 B to C). The upper part color is more or less deep,             depending on the level on the new shoot tip. -   Leaves:     -   -   Size.—Considered medium for the species. The ratio leaf             length/leaf width is 3.37.         -   Leaf length.—Approximately 140.0 to 170.0 millimeters with             leaf petiole. The medium length is 159.0 millimeters.         -   Leaf width.—Approximately 44.0 to 51.0 millimeters. The             medium width is 47.0 millimeters.         -   Leaf base shape.—Cuneate.         -   Leaf form.—Lanceolate.         -   Leaf tip form.—Short, pointed and acuminate.         -   Leaf color.—Upper leaf surface. — Dark Green (RHS Green 137             A). Lower surface. — A green (RHS Green 137 B to RHS Green             137 C) slightly lighter than the upper leaf surface color.         -   Leaf texture for the upper and the lower surfaces of the             leaf.—Smooth and glabrous.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnately veined.         -   Mid-vein.—Color.—Light green, almost white cream (RHS Yellow             Green 150 C). The color may evolve with maturity.         -   Leaf margins.—Slightly undulating.         -   Form of the leaf margins.—Considered slightly dentate.         -   Uniformity.—Leaves are isolated or grouped by 2 or 3. In             this last case, one leaf of normal size is found with one or             two smaller leaves (at least 50% smaller).         -   Leaf petioles.—Size. — Considered medium. Length. — About             6.0 to about 9.0 millimeters. Diameter. — About 1.5             millimeters.         -   Petioles color.—Upper petiole surface. — Light green (RHS             Yellow Green Group 145 A). Lower surface. — Light green (RHS             Yellow Green Group 150 C).         -   Leaf glands.—Size. — Considered medium. Their length is             about 1.5 millimeters and their width is about 1.0             millimeter. Number. — Generally 2 or 3 glands per leaf.             Type. — Reniform. Color. — On young leaves, leaf glands             color is considered a light green (RHS Green 145 B). On             older leaves, leaf glands color turns to a dark brown (RHS             Grey Brown 199 A to 199 B). Margins. — Smooth and regular.         -   Leaf stipules.—Generally. — No leaf stipules were observed.             But as seen in the characteristic relative to the leaves             uniformity, it is possible to find leaves by groups of 2 or             3, with a normal-size leaf and smaller ones.         -   Leaf bud burst.—Medium. -   Flowers:     -   -   Flower buds.—Generally. — At pre-floral stage of             development, the floral buds show a conic shape with a round             tip. Their form is evolving until blooming, with variables             dimensions. Just before blooming, floral buds are             approximately 11.0 millimeters wide and approximately 22.0             millimeters long. Color. — This characteristic is dependent             upon the proximity to bloom. At pre-floral stage of             development, the bottom of the flowers buds, formed by the             sepals, is of purple-brown color (RHS Greyed Purple 183 A);             the corolla, formed by the petals, is generally of pink             color (RHS Red Purple 65 B or RHS Red Purple 69 C). Petals             color shows an evolution until the end of flowering.         -   Hardiness.—The buds are considered hardy under typical             central Pyrénées-Orientales department climatic conditions.             No winter injury was noted during the last several years of             evaluation in the central Pyrénées-Orientales department,             with winter temperatures as low as −10 degrees Celsius in             January. The current variety has not been intentionally             subjected to drought or heat stress, but the variety showed             a very good resistance in orchard to temperatures up to 42             degrees Celsius with an average temperature between 28 and             30 degrees Celsius during 3 weeks in summer.         -   Date of bloom.—The blooming time generally begins at the end             of February or early in March. The first bloom was observed             on Feb. 28, 2009.         -   Blooming time.—Considered medium to semi-early season in             relative comparison to other commercial peach cultivars             grown in the Pyrénées-Orientales department, France. The             date of full bloom is observed around March 5^(th), at the             middle of the blooming period. The date of bloom varies             slightly with climatic conditions and cultural practices.             Thus the beginning of the first full bloom was observed on             February 28^(th), and the end was on Mar. 12, 2009. The next             observed blooming times were from March 19^(th) to Mar. 26,             2010 then from February 28^(th) to Mar. 11, 2011 and then             from March 15^(th) to Mar. 23, 2012.         -   Duration of bloom.—Approximately 10 to 12 days. This             characteristic varies slightly with the prevailing climatic             conditions.         -   Flower type.—The variety is considered to have a showy type             flower.         -   Flower size.—Considered medium to large. Flower diameter at             full bloom is approximately 33.0 to 35.0 millimeters.         -   Bloom quantity.—Considered abundant, approximately 45             flowers per meter, with a good distribution and a high rate             of fruit set.         -   Flower bud frequency.—Generally 2 flower buds appear per             node, occasionally 1.         -   Petal size.—Generally. — Considered medium.         -   Length.—Generally 19.0 millimeters.         -   Width.—Generally 19.0 millimeters.         -   Petal form.—Round-shaped.         -   Petal count.—Generally 5.         -   Petal texture.—Smooth, soft and glabrous.         -   Petal color.—Both surfaces of the petal are colored with a             pale Pink (RHS Red Purple 69 B to C) when young, becoming             slightly darker until the end of blooming.         -   Fragrance.—Sweet.         -   Petal claw.—Form. — The claw is considered to have a conic             form, with a slightly round tip. Length. — Approximately 6.0             millimeters. Width. — Approximately 4.0 millimeters.         -   Petal margins.—Generally considered slightly wavy.         -   Petal apex.—Generally. — The petal apices are generally wide             dome-shaped.         -   Flower pedicel.—Length. — Considered medium to large and             having an average length of approximately 2.5 millimeters.             Diameter. — Considered average, approximately 2.0             millimeters. Color. — Brown (RHS Brown N 199 B to C).         -   Calyx.—Internal surface texture. — Smooth and glabrous.             Color. — The inner surface of the calyx and the outer             surface of the calyx is considered of purple-brown (RHS             Greyed Purple 183 A to B, or RHS Grey Brown 199A) color.         -   Sepals.—Number. — Generally five sepals. Surface texture. —             The outer surface has a fine pubescent texture. Size. —             Average. Length. — Approximately 5.0 to 6.0 millimeters.             Width.— Approximately 4.0 to 5.0 millimeters. Color. — Both             sides of sepals are colored with a purple brown color (RHS             Greyed Purple 183 A to B, or RHS Grey Brown 199A).         -   Average number of stamens per flower.—Approximately 40             stamens per flower.         -   Anthers.—Generally. — Medium in length. Color. — Red to red             orange color (RHS Greyed Purple Group 178 A). The anthers             color may evolve with maturity to turn in a yellow color.         -   Pollen production.—Pollen is abundant, and has a yellow             color (Approximately RHS Yellow Orange 17 B to C) which may             evolve with maturity. The present variety is considered             auto-fertile (self-pollinating).         -   Filaments.—Size. — Medium length between 11.0 and 15.0             millimeters. Filaments length is generally equal or higher             than the pistil's length. The stamen length is usually             smaller than petals length.         -   Color.—Considered light pink to dark pink (RHS Red Purple 62             C to D or RHS Red Purple 73 A to B). The color becomes             darker during the blooming.         -   Pistil.—Number. — Usually 1. Generally. — Average in size.             Length. — Approximately between 16.0 and 18.0 millimeters             including the ovary. Generally equal to stamen length, if             not slightly smaller. Color. — Considered a very pale green             (RHS Yellow Green 150 D or RHS Yellow Green Group 151 D).             The color evolves during the blooming. Surface texture. —             The pubescence is present at the level of the ovary -   Fruit:     -   -   Maturity when described.—Very firm in ripe conditions             (shipping ripe).         -   Date of first picking.—Sep. 8, 2008.         -   Date of last picking.—The date of harvest varies slightly             with the prevailing climatic conditions. The ‘CRISPLATE’             variety has a late date of picking, and a grouped maturity.             Usually, the maturity is grouped within approximately 8 to             10 days and the harvest is generally performed in two runs.             Last known picking times carry on September 8^(th) to Sep.             14, 2008, then September 10^(th) to Sep. 18, 2009, then             September 10^(th) to Sep. 25, 2010, then August 26^(th) to             Sep. 5, 2011 and then September 17^(th) to Sep. 24, 2012.         -   Size.—Generally. — Fruits show a very round and regular             shape and are not much hairy. Fruits are homogeneous in             size, which is considered large.         -   Average cheek diameter.—Approximately 78.0 to 86.0             millimeters.         -   Average axial diameter.—Approximately 75.0 to 80.0             millimeters.         -   Typical weight.—Generally about 250.0 to 310.0 grams. This             characteristic is high dependent upon the prevailing             cultural practices, and therefore is not particularly             distinctive of the variety.         -   Fruit form.—Generally. — Round. The fruit is generally             uniform in symmetry, viewed from the suture's plane.         -   Fruit suture.—Wide-mouthed and slightly marked, extending             from the base to the apex. No apparent callousing or             stitching exists along the suture line. Not pointed.         -   Suture.—Color. — The suture has generally a similar color as             the whole fruit color, a luminous purple red (RHS Greyed             Purple 187 A to B or RHS Orange Red 34 A to B).         -   Ventral surface.—Form. — Smooth.         -   Apex.—Non-prominent and very small, generally slightly             depressed.         -   Base.—Semi-flared, shallow.         -   Stem cavity.—Average depth of the stem cavity is about 10.0             to 12.0 millimeters. Average width is about 18.0             millimeters.         -   Fruit skin.—Thickness. — Considered thick and strong, and             the adherence of skin to flesh is strong to medium,             depending on the fruit maturity. Texture. — Short             pubescence. Taste. — Semi-sweet, with a high level of             sugars. Tendency to crack. — None observed.         -   Color.—Blush color. — This blush color is a luminous purple             red (RHS Greyed Purple 187 A to B or RHS Orange Red 34 A to             B). The red blush covers 90% to 100% of the fruit skin             surface on an orange background (RHS Orange Red 31 B). The             percentage of the blush on the fruit skin surface can vary,             and is generally dependant upon the prevailing conditions             under which the fruit was grown. Ground color. — The ground             color covers more or less 10% of the fruit skin surface, and             is considered orange (RHS Orange Red 31 B).         -   Fruit stem.—Medium in length, approximately 8.0 millimeters.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 4.0 millimeters.         -   Color.—Pale green (RHS Yellow Green 145A to 145 B).         -   Flesh.—Ripens. — Very homogenously, slowly. The flesh has a             long shelf life. Texture. — Very firm, very dense, crunchy,             melting, juicy at harvest maturity stage. Fibers. —             Generally not fibrous. Aroma. — Pronounced. Eating quality.             — Considered very good, aromatic and sugary. Flavor. —             Considered semi-sweet and very aromatic. The Brix is             generally superior to 14 and acidity comprised between 6 and             9 meq/100 ml. Juice. — Very juicy at complete maturity.             Brix. — Comprised between 14.0 and 17.0 degrees. This             characteristic varies slightly with the number of fruit per             tree; prevailing cultural practices; and the surrounding             climatic conditions. Flesh color. — Yellow flesh (RHS Yellow             11 A) with a red pigmentation (RHS Red 53A) in the pit             cavity and around said cavity, where the red pigmentation is             star-shaped and extending on approximately 7.0 millimeters             around the cavity. -   Stone:     -   -   Type.—Clingstone, more or less adherent depending on the             fruit maturity.         -   Size.—Considered medium for the variety. The stone size             varies significantly depending upon the tree vigor, crop             load and prevailing growing conditions.         -   Length.—Approximately 30.0 to 34.0 millimeters.         -   Width.—Approximately 23.0 to 26.0 millimeters.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 17.0 to 19.0 millimeters.         -   Form.—Elliptic.         -   Base.—The base is generally straight.         -   Apex.—Shape. — The stone apex is short and pointed.         -   Stone cavity.—Considered medium size, with an ovate-form and             dimensions corresponding to the stone's dimensions.         -   Stone surface.—Surface texture. — The pit is transversely             furrowed on its entire surface. Furrows are more pronounced             toward the apex. The stone is pitted toward the base. Relief             is prominent generally and present basally. Ridges. — The             surface texture is generally characterized by more prominent             ridges along the ventral edges and is more prominent at the             apical tip.         -   Ventral edge.—Width. — Considered small to medium, and             having a dimension of approximately 2.0 millimeters at             mid-suture.         -   Dorsal edge.—Shape. — Grooved.         -   Stone color.—The color of the dry stone is generally             considered purple brown (RHS Greyed Purple N 186 C or RHS             Greyed Purple 187 A to B).         -   Tendency to split.—Splitting is usually absent, depending on             climatic conditions between blooming period and stone             hardening.         -   Kernel.—Size. — The kernel size is considered medium.             Length. — Approximately 24.0 millimeters. Width. —             Approximately 16.0 millimeters. Thickness. — Approximately             4.0 millimeters. Form. — Considered oblate and elliptic.             Pellicle. — Pubescent. Color. — The kernel skin is light             orange-brown (RHS Greyed Orange 165 A to B). The almond,             which is the seed of the kernel, is cream white (RHS Orange             White 159 D) and has a bitter tasting. The kernel and its             embryo are mature at the time of fruit maturity.         -   Use.—The subject variety ‘CRISPLATE’ is considered to be a             yellow peach tree of the late season of maturity, and which             produces fruits that are considered firm, attractively             colored with a very luminous purple red. Fruits have a             semi-sweet taste and are excellent for uncooked consumption,             crunchy or melting when at full maturity. Fruits have             excellent gustative qualities. Due to their flesh quality,             firmness and density, they can also be commercialized as             4^(th) range product (packed fruit or fruit in bags for             example). And they are also useful for both local and very             long distance shipping.         -   Keeping quality.—Remarkable. Fruit have a slow maturation             and a long shelf life both on the tree after growth             completion and after harvesting without alteration. After             growth completion, fruits are preserved on the tree more             than 1 week. After harvest, fruits are well preserved more             than 4 weeks at 2.0 degree Celsius.         -   Shipping quality.—Considered very good. The fruit of the new             yellow peach variety showed minimal bruising of the flesh or             skin damage after being subjected to normal harvesting and             packing procedures. Its resistance to handling during             harvest and packing and its long shelf life without             alteration after harvest easily permit 3 to 4 weeks-shipping             at 2 degrees Celsius.         -   Resistance to disease.—No particular susceptibilities were             noted. The present variety is not very sensitive to powdery             mildew and Monilia, or conservation diseases and decay due             to its thick and strong skin.

Although the new variety of peach tree possesses the described characteristics when grown under the ecological conditions prevailing near Elne, Pyrénées-Orientales department, France, it should be understood that variations of the usual magnitude and characteristics incident to changes in growing conditions, fertilization, pruning, pest control and horticultural management are to be expected. 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of yellow peach tree as illustrated and described, characterized by fruits with high eating quality and very long shelf life without alteration before and after harvesting, with a semi-sweet yellow flesh showing a red pigmentation inside and around the pit cavity, and an attractive luminous skin with a very high percentage of purple red blush on skin surface. 